Vatican's man in Ireland sent to Czech Republic

Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza

Pope Benedict has named Italian Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza to be the new nuncio to the Czech Republic, transferring him from his post as ambassador to Ireland.

The Vatican announced the change Sept. 15; it had been rumoured for months.

Leanza had been nuncio to Ireland since February 2008 and was temporarily called back to the Vatican in late July after Irish government officials accused the Vatican of being unhelpful to Irish bishops who wanted to enact stronger measures to protect children in the midst of the clerical sexual abuse crisis.

The diplomatic incident erupted after the publication July 13 of a government report examining how the Diocese of Cloyne mishandled accusations of clerical sexual abuse.

The report also accused the Vatican of being "entirely unhelpful" to Irish bishops seeking to implement robust abuse policies.

The day after the report's release, Ireland's foreign minister summoned Leanza, demanding the Vatican give a formal response to the report.